Bristol Rovers Football Club director sure over stadium

Permission to expand the Memorial Stadium to an 18,000-seater venue was granted in 2007

The finance director of Bristol Rovers Football Club has said a new stadium, which was granted planning permission in 2007, will be built.

Toni Watola said plans to rebuild the Memorial Stadium would happen but could not say when work would start.

"We will end up with a new ground, there is no doubt about that. It's just about timing," he said.

The proposed stadium would seat 18,000 fans but many residents objected while planning permission was discussed.

'Slow pace'

"The markets are starting to free up but we need a little bit more before we can make an announcement about timing," Mr Wotola added.

"We are working very hard in the background and we did sign some paperwork last week with a funder that takes us a little bit closer.

"We are moving but it is at a slow pace. It will be done when we can add all the numbers up."

A fans' group recently protested over the delay to the League One club's stadium and wore black and gold scarfs to a game earlier in March.

They chose the colours because they were worn by the Black Arabs football team, which went on to become Bristol Rovers.